Saturday, May 10, 2008

Karnataka votes for some sort of government today. The first phase of polling was organised right next to my house and I went and voted and got something like gentian-violet solution dabbed on my forefinger. The man who was doing the dabbing seemed to fancy himself as some sort of Picasso and took his time with it, converting the index finger of my left hand into some sort of cuticular canvas. I came away feeling like Dorian Gray.

This thing, though, it's supposed to indelible ink. Atleast for a few days. My grandfather managed to wash it off right after he came home. He could have singlehandedly made the (partyName) win, going back repeatedly and casting his vote and washing the mark right off.

It was revealed later to me that, had I gone with a large group of unkempt people who were waiting a little way away from my house, I would have received 500 INR, sweets and other accoutrements, under the condition that I vote for a man who had been our local corporator. Damn, blast, dash it and other bloody things! Haste truly makes waste.